Untouchable face

50.

Ever since she had moved to Seattle, Meredith had felt like she barely had any time to go out and hike. She constantly was at work and sleeping, but sometimes she managed a short one. And a short one was just what Derek needed. Which was weird to think about what he needed. She had never actually gone hiking with someone else before. It was more of just a habit she had picked up in college when she had needed to clear her mind but now she was doing it more for Derek than herself and it felt strange. Good but strange.

He had his cane, which made it slow going, but he was grinning. She wasn't sure she had ever seen him grin like this, but she did know she loved it. His grin made her forget she had ever been mad at him. She definitely wasn't mad at him anymore. It wasn't exactly his fault she had feelings for him and from everything he said and did, he was just as confused as he was so it wasn't like he was in the wrong here. And he was loving this too much to be anything but happy.

"Still good?" she smiled as he moved slowly over the path.

"I'm still good," he laughed.

"Just making sure," she giggled. "Aaron gave me a mean face when I told him about this."

"He did?"

"Yes," she nodded. "Apparently I'm going to destroy his magic."

"But he cleared me to go..."

"He's just...Aaron," she shrugged.

"Well I'm fine."

"Good."

"My back and leg will probably disagree when I get home but...that seems to be life."

"Soak in a warm bath," she advised.

"I will."

"Good," she smiled softly.

"Hmmm..." he nodded.

"How does the first hike since your accident feel?" she asked as she sipped at her water.

"Amazing," he breathed.

"It's a great day for one," she breathed.

"It's an awesome day."

"I needed it after this last week," Meredith sighed softly, turning to watch him maneuver around a couple rocks.

"Hard week?" he asked.

"Yeah," she shrugged. "Did...I mean, I assume you watch the news?"

"Yeah."

"The school shooting two days ago?"

"Oh god...I didn't even think..."

"Yeah..." she breathed.

"That had to be..."

"A nightmare?" she murmured. "Pretty much. The patient I'm taking care of now...she's thirteen years old. Her school was bringing her for a visit high school day."

"Oh god."

"We took a bullet out of her spine," Meredith shook her head.

"Is she okay?" he breathed.

"She's a quadriplegic."

"Oh the poor thing."

"She can't breathe on her own, can't move...she can just blink her eyes."

"That's heartbreaking."

"Yeah," she breathed. "But...I think she's a fighter."

"She is?"

"Yeah. Her name is Alaina and she...when I told her to blink, you could tell she was so scared but she just...blinked. And she had to work so hard to do that."